- Veterinary Heroes Awards recipients will be recognized Aug. 28–30 during Fetch Kansas City.
- Honorees represent specialties ranging from emergency medicine and surgery to nutrition and dermatology.
- Awards celebrate professionals advancing patient care, client service, and practice excellence.
- Winners were selected by a panel of previous Veterinary Heroes recipients.
- The annual recognition program highlights leadership and innovation across the veterinary profession.
Veterinary professionals from across the United States will be recognized during the 2026 Veterinary Heroes Awards ceremony at Fetch Kansas City, scheduled for Aug. 28–30 in Kansas City, Missouri. The annual awards honor individuals whose work has advanced animal health, improved patient outcomes, strengthened veterinary teams, and elevated standards of care throughout the profession.
This year’s recipients include clinicians, technicians, practice managers, client service professionals, and support staff representing a broad range of specialties and career paths.
Recognizing Excellence Across Veterinary Medicine
The 2026 honorees include leaders in behavior, dentistry, dermatology, emergency medicine, feline medicine, internal medicine, nutrition, surgery, and general practice, as well as outstanding veterinary technicians, paraprofessionals, client service representatives, and practice managers.
Among this year’s recipients are emergency and critical care specialist Dr. Joanna Finstad, veterinary technician James Mackey, practice manager Katie Van Winkle, nutrition specialist Dr. Craig Datz, surgeon Dr. Jane Park, and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dr. Michael Strickland.
The awards recognize professionals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to patient care, client service, mentorship, innovation, and leadership within veterinary medicine.
Celebration During Fetch Kansas City
Recipients will be honored during a live ceremony held as part of Fetch Kansas City, a continuing education conference that brings together veterinary professionals for clinical training, practice management education, networking, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Now in its sixth year, the Veterinary Heroes program continues to spotlight individuals whose contributions help advance the profession while improving the lives of animals, clients, and veterinary teams.
Information sourced from dvm360’s press release.
